Today, the country music superstar won part of the legal battle with his label, Curb Records.

McGraw signed the contract at issue with Curb back in 1997. The contract obligated McGraw to Curb for five original albums, and further specified a minimum 18-month period between album releases.

Curb brought suit against McGraw for breach of contract claiming that he delivered his latest album, Emotional Traffic, too soon after his last release, and thus, it does not count as his fifth album satisfying his contractual obligation. Consequently, Curb has refused to release Emotional Traffic even though one of the singles, “Felt Good On My Lips,” has already become a number one hit.

McGraw responded with a countersuit maintaining that the label has kept him in a state of “involuntary servitude” by purposely stretching out the length of his contract and putting his career on hold.

Curb requested a temporary or permanent injunction to prevent McGraw from recording or signing with another label. However, a Nashville court ruled today that McGraw is free to record for another label or independently while the lawsuit is being settled.

The trial for the breach of contract claim and damages will be held in July 2012.

It is not yet known what Curb Records will do regarding the release of Emotional Distress. However, after today’s decision, the label released a second single, “Better Than I Used To Be.”